18 The Bulletin. 



HOW TO PLANT A TREE. 



It is not every one who can properly plant a tree. From the time 

 trees leave the nursery until they are permanently planted they should 

 be exposed just as little as possible. They should never be left open 

 to sun or wind or air when it can at all be avoided. Trees waiting for 

 planting should be heeled in with moist earth about the roots and only 

 taken out of the ground when actually needed for setting. The hole 

 dug for a tree should be large enough so that the roots may be spread 

 out naturally in all directions. Yet it is not necessary to dig wide 

 holes if the trees are heavy-rooted, for the roots of a tree always need 

 trimming back at transplanting time. Cut back all roots, leaving a 

 clean-cut surface. Remove all broken or torn roots and those that 

 have become dried or dead. The cut surfaces should always show 

 fresh living wood. When these clean-cut surfaces come in contact 

 with moist soil the cambium grows out over the end and forms a callus, 

 from which new roots start very readily. 



The filling-in of the holes is the most important step in the work of 

 tree planting. To get the best results moist soil must be placed closely 

 about the roots, so that there are no air holes or crevices. The best 

 instrument fbr accomplishing this work is the human hand. When 

 the tree is placed in position the roots are spread out and a shovelful 

 or two of the finest and best earth thrown in upon them. This should 

 be carefully worked into the crevices with the fingers, and when the 

 hole is about a third full the dirt about the roots of the 'trees should be 

 tramped down solid. Moving the tree up and down while the earth 

 is being thrown in will assist materially in avoiding air holes and in 

 bringing the soil into close contact with all the roots. There is little 

 danger of packing the earth too much, but trees often die for lack of 

 tramping. After the roots are all covered and packed in tightly the 

 hole may be filled with the remainder of the earth. Trees should be 

 set in the orchard no deeper than they stood in the nursery. Deep 

 setting is almost as injurious as too shallow setting. The collar of the 

 tree is the natural indicator of the proper depth of planting. The 

 surface should be left loose ; tramping it would pack the soil so that it 

 would lose moisture and dry out the tree. In planting trees do not 

 pour water into the holes, for a slightly moist soil is much better than 

 a very wet one. In very cold regions trees are best set in spring. In 

 fairly mild climates trees get a better start if planted in the fall. In 

 North Carolina, even in the mountains, the fall planting of trees will 

 almost invariably give best results. The proper distance for setting 

 standard apple trees is not less than 35 feet. 



Since the root surface has been reduced in transplanting the tree, 

 it is necessary to cut back the top in similar proportion to maintain a 

 balance between top and root. If this is not done, when the tree 

 comes into leaf the foliage will give off moisture faster than the re- 

 duced roots can supply it, and so the tree is dried out and killed. 



